Rio Ferdinand thinks Arsenal fans would “rip the place apart” if they signed Manchester United winger Jesse Lingard in the summer transfer window.
Lingard annoyed Gunners fans in January 2019 when he celebrated scoring their second goal in a 3-1 FA Cup victory by moonwalking before posting on social media that the Emirates Stadium was now his “dancefloor”.
Bernd Leno admitted that Arsenal’s players used it as motivation to beat United 2-0 in the Premier League two months later.
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The Daily Star claimed on Sunday that Arsenal will ‘hijack’ the Hammers’ hopes of keeping Lingard after initially pursuing him in the winter.
However, Ferdinand, who recalled the moonwalking celebration, doesn’t think Lingard would be welcomed with open arms at the Emirates.
Ferdinand told his FIVE YouTube channel: “Yeah but you know what they [Arsenal fans] wouldn’t have him there.
“The way he moonwalked off that pitch once, they wouldn’t have it. The fans would rip the place apart. He disrespected the Emirates in a way that hadn’t been seen.
“Listen West Ham will have a fight to get him by the way because I think other teams are going to be like: ‘Listen, we want him!’
“He’s not going to go to Arsenal over West Ham, obviously but there will be other teams. He ain’t going nowhere near Arsenal.”
Lingard has been in sensational form since joining West Ham on loan in January, scoring eight goals and contributing three assists in just nine Premier League matches.
And Ferdinand’s former England team-mate Peter Crouch reckons Lingard would be “better off leaving” Man United.
“Maybe the plan was for him to go out and show himself to potential suitors,” Crouch told the Daily Mail.
“If that is the case, I think United will try to command £20m-plus. Even in this day and age, that would represent amazing value.
“Personally, I believe Jesse would be better off leaving. He is playing with the shackles off at a club where he is wanted. Why would he jeopardise that by taking the chance of returning to United and finding out a few months down the line that he is a bit-part player?
“Suddenly the old mentality would creep in, the doubts, and all the good work would go out. This fresh start has been fantastic for Lingard. It has also done him good getting away from the scrutiny in Manchester. I hope West Ham get that deal over the line.”
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